A glimpse into our lives.: We wanted to paint our dining room the color of Isobel Crawley’s sitting room on Downton Abbey, but it wound up being not far from the blue of these walls. We have both silently agreed not to notice.

We couldn’t be more thrilled to see Joan on the judging panel. Say what you will about her, she has more than established her credentials to discuss red carpet fashion. She pretty much invented modern red carpet coverage singlehandedly and we tend to get very defensive about the fact that the fashion world has never paid her her due. She introduced the phrase “Who are you wearing?” to the American public, for God’s sake. Yes, she’s crude and no, we don’t think she always has the best or most interesting taste, but millions of people would never pay attention to what celebrities wear on red carpets if it wasn’t for her. And those red carpets pay huge dividends to the right designers and stars. Plus: we’re ready to see some of these designers cry. We love you, Nina, but you’ve gotten soft on these folks. Where is the spitfire who shouted “IT’S AESTHETICALLY NOT PLEASING!!!!!!” to Santino?

Melissa should just go sit quietly in the corner. We have no intention of noticing her.

Lovely to see you, as always.
Two things. After a loooonnnng time coming I finally got round to re painting/redoing the living room, which included upholstering a small side area of the room in a stamped vinyl that looks like tooled leather. The project turned out even better than I had hoped. Quite proud of myself.

The second reason is that I will be getting a new addition to my growing art collection this weekend. Place all picked out and ready for it to be hung.

3boysful

How exciting! It’s always nice when you complete a big project, esp when the results are pleasing. And I (art history major) am always up for new artwork. Enjoy! Sante’!

Winter_White

My dear fellow art history major, I hope you did much more with your degree(s) than I did with mine! But I loved studying art.

I’m an art history major too! And I’m a librarian 🙂 I do, however, volunteer in the local art museum library, in the hopes that someday an opening will come up, wherein I can immerse myself in arty books full-time.

Winter_White

Good luck, Sarah! I hope you get that opportunity very soon. Arty books…in an art museum…sounds like a dream job.

Thanks. Some kid just got a job at my library (we call him Doogie) at age 21, fresh out of college, never worked in his life, at a higher pay-rate than me. I could have died. I try to be nice to him, but jeez. He eats from a thermos, and his dad drives him to and from work. No kidding. Anyway, he got the job on the basis of volunteering alone, so I hope that helps….

Winter_White

Sarah, go ahead and just be happy for Doogie that he got a big “out-of-the-blue” boost in Life. Because the same kind of thing will happen for you, too! (And for all you know, that job is going to be the highlight of Doogie’s life…) 😉

I know. I remind myself that every day when he is heating up his thermos in the lunchroom and only speaking to our 60+ year old boss, and I remember he must have been home-schooled or something, because the kid has no social skills whatsoever.

formerlyAnon

That kind of knowledge is a life-long enrichment (though I know that’s cliched) even if you never “do” anything with it.

I’ve gone (and been taken) to all sorts of institutions for and events in all of “the arts” since I was a child, but never undertaken any formal study. When I do sit down and do a little research and learn something, it’s amazing how many layers of understanding and appreciation develop. Much, much more than just learning to articulate things using the”right” words.

Winter_White

Yes! And how fantastic that someone introduced you to the arts at an early age. (“EnRICHment”…perfect word, eh?)

I was once at an art museum listening to — oh, okay, eavesdropping on! — a woman with her young children. As they strolled, she expressed openness and enthusiasm and curiosity about every piece of art on the walls, which encouraged them to do the same. She asked them what they thought. Listened attentively to their answers. Let them have their opinions, but sometimes asked for clarification. I loved her! And kept thinking what amazing people those kids would probably become.

formerlyAnon

Yup. My mom was amazing.

3boysful

Law school! (But I plan to return for my PhD after the kiddos fly the coop . . . .)

NDC_IPCentral

You’re in law school, 3boysful? Read One L by Scott Turow. Man, I read it nearly 15 years out and it still was harrowing. And now… well, next year will be my 40th law school reunion.

Yes, I AM old.

formerlyAnon

My best friend recently remarked that we’d been friends for 40 years. Took me aback for a minute!

NDC_IPCentral

Come this fall, my longest friendship (g/f from prep school) will be 50 years old. Whew.

formerlyAnon

Hard to believe, right?

3boysful

Congrats NDC on that almost-reunion and surviving to tell about it! Actually, I graduated nearly 30 years ago. Yes, One L was a harrowing read–I remember it still. (And I still remember reading cases and taking copious irrelevant notes–ok, the car was green, the plaintiff had on plaid underwear . . . .)

But I would still like to return to study more art history–you learn about politics, religion, philosophy, etc., when you examine the art of a particular era. My kids think I should go on Jeopardy.

NDC_IPCentral

Well, as I think about it, maybe I’ll take the art history courses I should have taken in Ann Arbor back in my undergrad days after I’ve retired.

MacPherson vs. Buick, a case style burnt into my brain from first year Torts. What’s sobering is to start to tally the law school classmates who’ve “shuffled off this mortal coil,” as my contracts prof of the colorful phrase would have said. HE was a Professor Kingsfield, to be sure.

Hmm, I realize that one of my law school class DID show up on Jeopardy many years ago. Contracts prof had a joke about him, too, when that fellow was absent when called upon. “Mr. Braddock? Mr. Braddock? Hmmm, he must be off chasing the British.” Well, under the circs we all fell around laughing.

formerlyAnon

You probably know something about this (because: Law school!) but: What I wish someone had said to me before I started my PhD:

Make sure your goals are very clear and that the PhD process meets them. There are more efficient ways to increase your knowledge/expertise and ability to do many (not all) kinds of research.

It can be an incredible experience, but as an “older” student (with no desire to become an academic) I’ve found that many of the hoops through which one must jump and some of the intellectual disputes in which one is pressured to take sides just seem ridiculous.

I’m not sorry I started the degree, but if I weren’t within a year or so of finishing I’d consider quitting. I don’t think I’ll look back at the end of my life and think of it as something that was the best use of my time.

3boysful

Thanks for the sage advice, formerly!

NDC_IPCentral

I started law school when I was only 20 – turned 21 in the 1st semester, so I didn’t have a mature clue about my goals. It worked out, and I’m happy with my career path, but boy, most of it wasn’t intentional at the outset.

My brother, Harvard Law, went on after 10 years in practice to pursue a Ph.D in history, was ABD. But, he learned a lot – so… you are doing that, too. Knowledge. Don’t beat yourself up.

formerlyAnon

Thanks for the encouragement. I’m fairly positive, because it IS a choice – one so few people have – about how to spend my time. And I try not to set myself up for avoidable regrets. Hindsight is 20/20!

But when I finish, the celebration is going to more about reaching the finish line and the people and experiences along the way than the degree.

Call me Bee

Congrats on finishing an home improvement project (something that rarely happens around here, though we start a great many….) and more congrats on the new member of your art collection. Prosit!!

As a recent painter of my kitchen and layer of tile floor, I salute you. I’m sure it is quite gratifying. I’m getting a new addition to my growing tattoo collection this weekend, so we are both enjoying art, be it different sources. A toast to us both!

I am getting a raccoon on my left shoulderblade, in a continuance of a Woodland Creatures of Virginia theme on my back, begun with a groundhog on my right shoulder in honor of my dearly departed mother, who I used to refer to as “Marmot.” I spent a lot of time in the woods as a kid. I am also getting a badly done “T” in the phrase “Mama Tried” fixed on my left shoulder, for the font often makes people think it says “cried” and that was not the idea. Lastly, for now, I’ll be getting French philosopher Henri Bergson’s concept “elan vital” on my right arm, because I read about him while researching a painting by Arthur Dove and I like the idea – a spirit or energy that constantly animates all living things in their fight for existence.

Thank you, I respect your opinion. I also give a fair amount of serious thought to getting the SOOUUUuuulll Train somewhere on my body, because it is my favorite television show EVER, but I haven’t committed yet. There’s plenty of time and flesh…

formerlyAnon

I have to tell you I love the juxtaposition of images and concepts you describe. I work in a library, as well, and it’s obvious you fit right into the tribe! (Collectively, I think librarians & library para-professionals are one of the most interesting human assemblages anywhere.)

Thank you, and you are right. I cannot believe how lucky I am to work in a library. I always tell people it is a joke that they pay me to be there.

NYCGlamourpuss

You are really lucky! A library must be a great place to work!

Call me Bee

I love that idea…”elan vital”. Reminds me of Heinlein’s “Stranger in a Strange Land” where the main character lives by the philosophy: Thou art God. The Great Spirit in in all living things. Good choice!

Thank you. I am somewhat begrudgingly being forced into an appreciation for modernist painting, as a result of learning about artists (like Arthur Dove) and their damnable good souls and lovable hearts, despite my distaste for non-representational painting. So to get this tat is sort of a way of reminding myself you should never close your mind to things. Had I not chosen to do a term paper on Mr. Dove’s 1935 oil “Mars Orange and Green” I wouldn’t have learned how he was influenced by Bergson, or about elan vital, which I love. It does call to Heinlein, you’re right. Also reminds me of an e.e. cummings poem, “I thank you God for most this amazing day” – on my Mom’s headstone.

It is apt, in my case. She really did, poor lady. At least I’m not doing life without parole, right?

formerlyAnon

Well, greetings and congratulations!

I am always impressed by successful home decorating projects, since my abilities end at painting a room. (And even that is surrounded by far more angst and fuss than is remotely warranted.)

NDC_IPCentral

Oh, congratulations on both accounts. Good on ya for the LR re-do – and by yourself, no less. I’m impressed. That effort and outcome will reward and please you for a long time. How nice that your labors paid off. As to the addition to your art collection – same goes. Every time I buy a painting or pastel (and I have a LOT of fine work), I just get such enjoyment out of the piece. I enjoy every painting, pastel, wood-block print, silverpoint etching that I have. The interior designer with whom I’ve worked to furnish Chez Not IP says I have the best art collection of all her clients, and we’re talking Westchester County, NY here, so I have some stiff competition from her chi-chi clientele.

Most of my oils are plein air landscapes by “New American Luminists (I’ve done IP work for some of these gents), but I also have several nifty still lifes from a dear friend (both oils and pastels) of food – a row of pearl onions (pastel) that really are pearly, a luscious garlic clove, a turnip with the longest, jagged root – the sorts of paintings that prompt folks to halt, then walk up close to study.

Good art truly nourishes the soul.

formerlyAnon

I love representations of food in art. It’s not the only thing I like, but an enduring fascination.

NDC_IPCentral

This friend also did a fab row of Hershey’s kisses, foil wrapped, and partially unwrapped, in pastels, that is a proud art possession of my oldest nephew. She is really good at the food still lifes – great composition and whimsy. Oh, and the Krispy Kreme doughnut oozing filling and the box? Wedding gift to my brother. Her resting-upside-down-on-its-cap toadstool painting is warmly lit in my den.

Congrats – what a great way to end the week. I painted my living room, dining room and kitchen a few years ago by myself because Sherwin Williams was having a Memorial Day sale on paint and I couldn’t resist a bargain. I’ll be joining you with a real, honest to goodness glass (or bottle) of champagne tonight. It was also on sale 🙂 If we weren’t on opposite sides of the county, I’d invite you over.

One can only hope. Certainly, these dames look like they won’t take no shit from nobody.

NYCGlamourpuss

I’m counting on that!

FifiDubois

I hope someday in the not too distant future, someone will call me a glorious old broad. It’s my first time posting in the TLounge so I hope I’m not being gauche when I say that, unfortunately, Champagne gives me a headache. Could I possibly have a Makers Mark Manhattan Straight up?

3boysful

Welcome, Fifi! We’ll have the barkeep bring it over toute de suite!

NDC_IPCentral

Welcome, and good on ya for a fine Manhattan as your tipple of choice. You’re causing me to think I might concoct one in about an hour when I toddle into Chez Not IP Central.

Of course you’ll be getting the full proof, original strength, Maker’s Mark, eh?

FifiDubois

Thanks for the welcome! I currently live in Kentucky, so I’ll be breaking out my Maker’s Mark bottle that I hand dipped myself. I’ve been saving it for a special occassion and Joan Rivers plus a “real women” challenge seems like an appropriate time. Cheers everyone!

They actually backed out of that threat to lower the proof. The backlash was strong. Google it!

NDC_IPCentral

Oh, I know, Sarah, the distillery backed down fast. The watering down is one of the issues we IP attorneys abhor, because a trademark, which is what Maker’s Mark is identifies a source and a particular level of quality. Change the formula, cheapen the brand, you devalue the trademark. I’d have been hammering on the Maker’s Mark Distillery, Inc. marketing department like nobody’s business about that dilution decision had I been in-house IP counsel.

Informed Plenty Central, I see 🙂 I heard Jack Daniel’s had done it twice already. I have never had it except in Coke and with a serious grimace after every sip, so I guess I wouldn’t notice the difference…

NDC_IPCentral

A good bourbon whiskey should be sipped, but I’m not a fan of Coke as a mixer. I probably would drink Maker’s Mark on the rocks; I use Old Granddad as my bourbon for the Manhattans I make, ever attempting to achieve the results my father crafted – that was a Manhattan…. *sigh*

I only do Southern Comfort, as a general rule. SoCo and ginger, if I must, but I’m a vodka girl and I like me a Caucasian most times. You guys can keep the Maker’s, it’s a bit too stiff for me.

Call me Bee

Welcome! No need to worry about the chmpagne. I take it once in a while, but vodka is my drink of choice most of the time. We take all kinds here… LOL

formerlyAnon

Welcome to the ranks of We Who Post (Sometimes Too Much)!

NDC_IPCentral

Voluble? Vocal? Run-on? Opinionated? US?

You bet, but it’s never too much!

NYCGlamourpuss

Welcome! I wish I had more time to post here – it’s a blast!

Judy_J

“Menopausal kitten”? Hey, that describes me!

NYCGlamourpuss

Me too!

Peeve

me, three! Uh, oh…

NDC_IPCentral

Should be lively and angst-fraught tonight – NOT MODEL BODIES! O, the hand-wringing. And as a dame of, increasingly, a certain age, I’ll be listening closely for the inevitable disses the contestant-designers (yes, yes, they are contestants) toss off about persons older than 25 or so. We’re most often the ones with the buying power, after all……

Kiltdntiltd, I’ll be writing you in your thread… good news? I’ll all ears. ‘N’ eyes.

MintaHallWriter

Yes…Oh, the humanity!!!! ::sob::

Wonder what they’ll do with saggy butts, saggy boobs, dowager humps…not to mention that these ladies are all approximately half the height of the usual models!

formerlyAnon

Major props to the ones who avoid the temptation to produce Variations on the Tent.

3boysful

When, oh, when will these purported designers learn that before coming to PR, they should practice creating an ensemble for a more mature, larger than size 2 woman so that they know the lay of the land? It’s pretty obvious now that everyone gets a designers’ moms/plus-sized/otherwise non-model-ly client at some point in this circus.

Winter_White

But but but…wherever could they find a larger-than-size-2 real woman out here in the real world to practice on?

Call me Bee

Hahahaha—have them come to the midwest!

MintaHallWriter

Gosh, Winter_White. I have NO IDEA where designers could find such ladies. It’s not like they’re all around. As in just everywhere. Why, the designers would have to look high and low to find a real-sized woman larger than a size 2.

Every season it just astounds me that the designers are so oblivious to the “standard” challenges. Children. Real women. Pregnant women. Old women. Plus-Size. Unconventional materials. Avant garde.

Do these folks not study prior seasons?? Why not??

formerlyAnon

It’s gotten to where I wonder if one of the screening criteria for applicants is “shows little knowledge of previous seasons.”

3boysful

formerly, you may be onto something here . . . I wonder if the producers get the bunch they like and then ask them how much they’ve seen the show. (Aside to good designers out there–watch all previous seasons and then LIE!)

Zippypie

I haven’t been watching this season but I will tune in tonight after work for Joan. She is fantabulous. And the clients are mature women who I hope take absolutely no shit from these designers. Give ’em hell, ladies!!

zenobar

Loooong-ass week, yeah? Time to put on something shimmery and sit down with a very strong gimlet.

zenobar

And by “something shimmery” I may actually be referring to my floor-length black-watch-plaid flannel nightgown.

I have a shameful love for my fluffy dusty pink bathrobe. I love it so much that I don’t even mind, much, that it is one of my least favorite colors in the universe (a gift, obviously). I love the texture soooo much that I fully expect that when it’s time to replace it, they will no longer make the exact textile. Because that’s just how things work.

Call me Bee

I so understand. My bathrobe was one of the last things my mother sewed for me–she died in 1997. It’s fleece, but practically rags at this point. Even though I’ve had fabric for a new one for years, I am loathe to give it up…at least it still covers me up—mostly.

My mom made me a quilt to take to college. If I can’t find a friend or relative who I truly believe will use it – even as a dog blanket – when I die it’s getting buried/cremated with me.

Call me Bee

Thanks guys. I know I’ll have to make my new one sometime–my old robe is falling to pieces. But be sure that that robe will find it’s way in to a quilt that I’ll make and keep–as yours, Anon, till I die and they bury it with me.

When the day comes it just doesn’t cover enough anymore, maybe use a piece of the fabric to make a small pillow or line a memento box? So you’ll have it with you always albeit in a different form. I read a great story about a woman who had a ratty shredded old footstool of her Gran’s that held strong memories for her – she also had an old moth eaten coat of her Dad’s. Both were stored in the garage as they weren’t presentable. She realized she couldn’t enjoy either memory that way – so she cut out the best piece of the coat and used it to re-cover the footstool! Now it sits proudly in her home and she has her memories close at hand. 🙂

NYCGlamourpuss

It’s okay, at least you’re in a gown. I’m in jammie bottoms and an Elvis tee shirt. With piggy slippers.

Lilithcat

This old broad will, once again, miss the show and have to catch in on On Demand later. I’m off to a lecture about Frank Lloyd Wright tonight. Talk about great design!

I’m amazed Joan Rivers can move that face, let alone talk.

NDC_IPCentral

Your Thursday culture appointments are putting me to shame. I should pull out some of the FLW books I have here; I had a super time May 2011 roaming around the Oak Park neighborhoods and going to the Frank Lloyd Wright House with dear University of Michigan college friends for an *ahem* ‘th reunion. Enjoy.

Lilithcat

If you’re ever back in the Chicago area, I’m doing tours at Robie House!

Really? I may see you there at some point — I’m forever trying to convince my husband to go on architecture tours with me! (That was my childhood ambition. Then I discovered that physics and I are not friends….)

formerlyAnon

You’re a good example to those of us who rarely venture out on weeknights, though. [Well, to those of us who live where there’s something worth venturing to, and are free of pressing at-home obligations. People like, um, me.]

Lilithcat

It helps to be retired and, therefore, able to sleep late the next day.

“Yes, she’s crude and no, we don’t think she always has the best or most
interesting taste” That pretty much sums up Joan Rivers. I don’t see the love.

“but millions of people would never pay attention to
what celebrities wear on red carpets if it wasn’t for her.” Actually, millions of people have been watching red carpet fashion long before Joan Rivers. It is certainly covered more extensively now, but many of us have long been more interested in the fashions than the awards show itself.

Which was exactly our point and something that’s directly attributable to Joan.

Targettaste

Oh crap, I hate when I disagree with you guys! I’ll have to concede that I can’t get past my extreme dislike of Joan Rivers, and find it difficult to give her credit for anything.

zelavie

I really, REALLY can’t stand Joan Rivers. I’m sure she had some meaningful contribution to entertainment, but what she’s done in the last 10-ish years has negated any of that for me. All I can associate her with now is her hopelessly self-centered persona on Fashion Police, in which she’s just plain mean (not sarcastic or snarky – those both involve a modicum of humor, which she lacks). Seriously, this woman is more self-involved than Tyra Freaking Banks, which says a lot. Nothing constructive comes out of her mouth anymore, and I just can’t watch her. It’s unfortunate, because I’d watch Fashion Police on a regular basis if she wasn’t part of it. I love the critiques (even from Kelly & Guiliana), but I can’t with that woman.

Imasewsure

I love Fashion Police for the same reasons you hate it. Joan is self-serving and opinionated and rude… and I love her to death. You could replace everyone else on the show ten times and I’d watch it for Joan. Love her Beverly Hills matron wardrobe, her tasteless jokes and all of her schtick…

zelavie

She’s just not my taste, I guess. There are plenty of mean, crude comics that I enjoy, I just don’t find anything humorous or entertaining about Joan. To each his/her own, right?

I love her too. Who said she had to answer to anybody? I cannot wait until I get old and can exploit the shit out of not having to apologize for myself.

NYCGlamourpuss

I know, LOL! Well said!

formerlyAnon

So, it’s not just me. I’d wondered if I was souring or something. I used to enjoy her (more years ago than some of the Kittens can remember) in part because she was willing to be a bit bolder or more abrasive than some comedians, but I agree that in the last several years it seems she always ruins any enjoyable moments by inserting some remark that reads, to me, as painfully obtuse, self-centered or flat-out mean.

To the point where I’m afraid I’m going to start feeling embarrassed for her, as one does for one’s aged Uncle Tony who doesn’t realize how loud and unamusing his diatribes have become.

NYCGlamourpuss

I’ve loved her since I was a little kid in the 70s! She never bores me, that’s for sure! 😉

zelavie

Maybe that’s part of it for me – I wasn’t really exposed to her before maybe 15-ish years ago, so I don’t have any lingering love of her glory days.

NYCGlamourpuss

It’s possible, young’un! 😉

SouthernGirlRena

I’m right there with you. When I do watch Fashion Police, I keep the remote in may hand and mute every time she speaks. I just CANNOT listen to her. I think she is just mean and obnoxious.

Sing4yursupper

I never liked her as a comedienne and dislike her even more as a fashion commentator. She has no respect for women in general.Her daughter is just like her.

Indovina

I probably can stand Joan Rivers – I have so little exposure to her – but I sympathize. My feelings on her are mixed. On the one hand, I have a kind of respect for her (for once, PR described someone as an icon who actually, you know, is one): she was a pioneer (and she hates being referred to as such, because she’s still around, but on that account I take a certain joy in doing so). Once upon a time, Joan Rivers meant something. When she started her career, that crude, offensive sort of persona genuinely confronted society and overturned expectations of behaviour – especially for a woman.

Those days are long since gone. Not just for her but for that whole idea of comedy. It needs to die – or rather is dead and carries on unknowingly in undeath. There are a plethora of crude, mean comedians – it seems like most of them – but they don’t mean anything anymore. Something can’t be both ubiquitous and subversive.

I mean, I’m in my 20s – I’ve had internet access for the majority of my life and hence spent an inordinate amount of time in a world where people once considered it the height of hilarity to trick other people into looking at a picture of a prolapsed anus. Crude, rude, cruel, offensive, etc. bore me. Things don’t seem so confrontational or revolutionary when you’ve heard them from every teenager on the internet for the past 15 years.

This is also why I have no interest in or empathy for “shocking” art. It’s just empty to me.

formerlyAnon

Your first paragraph sums up my feelings about Ms. Rivers on a much more sophisticated and meaningful plane than I was able to in my comments.

Indovina

Oh, I’m very flattered.

And glad I didn’t begin the paragraph with “For one thing, 8 or 9 years ago she was a guest voice on the woefully short-lived Disney Channel cartoon Dave the Barbarian, of which I was embarrassingly fond.”

MintaHallWriter

I am so rocking this challenge!!! Designers who not only have to deal with Real Women, but Real Grannies…who have saggy boobs and butts, thick waists, dowager humps. Oh, glory, glory, glory.

And Joan–as rude and crude as she is–is really the perfect judge for this. Taste? Never. Finesse? Not a chance. But watching Joan slice-and-dice the designers? HIGH entertainment.

Which means it’s time to get high. A top-shelf Long Beach, please, light on the cranberry. Heavy on the rum. And the gin. And the vodka. And the tequila. And the triple sec.

I’m getting new glasses, new tats, and highlights this weekend. AND I made the honors list at school, plus I’ve got a room with a hot tub reserved for next friday. Let the tax refund debauchery begin! Woo-hoo!

We bought a four story cat condo to keep Tesla out of the Christmas tree….he used it as a ladder to get to the star on top. sigh. And now the tree is down, he won’t climb it anymore. Seventy-five bucks for a cat ladder. I need my head examined.

MilaXX

I got a 6ft one off Amazon for $50. Took me and hour to put together. Stormie took a day or two to get used it but now she loves it.

Call me Bee

What a wonderful lounge. It looks rather Disney-ish, no?
This real-woman challenge oughtta be good. The one thing I’m learning about old broads–we–I mean they–often could give a rip about what others think and just let out anything that comes to mind. And often it’s pretty funny.
I am not ashamed to say I am one of the Joan Rangers. I’m going to enjoy this (I hope.)
Bartend–this old broad would love a Stoli on the rocks with two olives. And keep ’em coming.

MintaHallWriter

Yeah, I’m getting all tingly at the thought of this episode. one of the best ideas ever on PR!

And with Joan…gotta be good with her. She’s very funny.

NYCGlamourpuss

Yes! A fellow Joan Ranger!

Imasewsure

I have no issues with Melissa… I figure she is Joan’s ride (and her posse) so I never mind her coming along. Joan I love love – but I’m still not watching this.. Instead I await tomorrow’s review of course

NYCGlamourpuss

Okay, seriously, I would do anything to have my apartment look exactly like this lounge!

You know what – thank you, TLo. And I’m totally serious – I love Joan Rivers. I loved her before she became a fashionista, before she did red carpet, back when she was just plain crude. And now that she’s a fashionista who’s still crude, she’s particularly awesome. And sure, I hear it all the time, “UGH! Joan Rivers! You like Joan Rivers? You actually WATCH Fashion Police?” You bet your sweet ass I do, baby, every Friday night. A lot of people act like just because she got her start in comedy and has no filter that she’s not fit to discuss fashion, which is simply not true. And yes, by the looks of things, she’s gonna make some designers cry!

Call me Bee

Girl–let’s be BFFs. 🙂

NYCGlamourpuss

I’m all yours! True story – when I was in college (in the 80s), I had a vinyl copy of Joan’s comedy album “What Becomes a Semi-Legend Most?”, and I made ALL my friends listen to that! That, and Bette Midler’s “Mud Will Be Flung Tonight” album!

Call me Bee

I’m a bit older than you are, but I remember seeing her on all the great variety shows in the 60s–Ed Sullivan, Andy Williams, Red Skelton, Carol Burnett in the 70s–and she was a riot. And–she was a fixture on The Tonight Show for years and years. She’s got balls.

(I just read this again–I’m not a bit older–I’m a lot older…LOL…)

NYCGlamourpuss

I’m 49! I’m not quite a menopausal kitten, but I’m very much a peri-menopausal kitten, ha ha!

I do remember her as the permanent fill-in host on the Tonight Show when it was Johnny Carson. And I remember seeing her on all the old talk shows of the 70s like Mike Douglas and Merv Griffin.

formerlyAnon

I LOVED her in the ’60s and ’70s – there was a period when she was on Carson and some of the other talk shows, I think, and often came out with stuff that just skewered something or someone right to the wall, but it was funny. And in that period, bolder than what was expected.

VictoriaDiNardo

I saw her sometime in the 70’s at the Front Row theater in Cleveland – well, the suburbs of Cleveland – and live she was amazing. She was the first female comic I’d heard who made the female version of dick-jokes – stuff about gyno visits and sex, but graphic and from the female point of view.

She’s got balls and then some!

NYCGlamourpuss

OMG! I loved her gyno jokes! “I have a gyno who does jokes! JOKES! ‘Dr. Schwartz, at your cervix!'”

MilaXX

I remember her stand up and that awful movie she and Billy Crystal made; Rabbit Test.

MissAmynae

WORD. Her stand-up is Golden. When I was maybe 12, I used to watch her on QVC when she did her Kenneth Jay Lane jewelry collection- loved her. I was a magpie at a very young age….

formerlyAnon

Gosh. I wish I still liked Joan. I still do, for minutes at a time, and then she inevitably comes out with something that sounds incredibly obtuse and mean and ruins the streak. I used to really, really enjoy her.

Even though she wears the occasional old-school fur I do love Miz Joan and her style. Even though she’s made of Botox and fillers and surgeries (oh my!) she has spirit and a zest for life. Plus she has no filters and that makes it really fun. I’ve put a miniature Chinese umbrella in my glass of Vignoles and am ready for just about anything. Gombai!

Wow, I didn’t even notice Melissa and she’s the one at the front. Hey, I kinda love Joan Rivers. Did you ever see her interview GWAR back in the day? What a gas. I almost want to watch this to see what a menopausal kitten looks like. Almost.

Love the lounge. It’s a little jewel of a space. That old chestnut about small spaces : keep it white or very light colored and uncluttered, add mirrors – this will “fool” the eye into thinking it’s a larger space. My response: Bull. The eye is not fooled – it still looks like a small space with light walls and furniture and mirrors. HOWEVER, what does work is throwing lots of color, pattern and interesting pieces of furniture and art around. Fill it up. Be bold. The eye no longer CARES that it’s a small space – it’s too busy taking in all the beauty and treasures.

About Joan – I appear to be in the minority. She scares me. A lot. That frozen face. That harsh get piercing shriek that makes my ears bleed. I get what T&L are saying about her contribution to red carpet fashions, and I agree, but she is just too grating and abrasive for me to enjoy watching her. Poor designers are about to get raked over the coals…

Call me Bee

Yes–about the small spaces. I’ve been sayting the same thing for years! My tiny half-bath will never look big no matter what the color is!

My aunt, who was an artist, had a tiny half bath on the ground floor. She papered it in flocked black and beaten gold paper (sounds tacky but it wasn’t) and covered the walls with rich colored paintings in gilded frames. A gilt mirror, plush embroidered deep golden towels, dark slightly glittering floor tiles, a gorgeous basin, beaten gold light fixtures dripping with crystals… People would go in and not come out for the longest time! LOL everyone loved it – it felt luxurious and like stepping inside a Faberge egg.

notdorothygale

Our first home had one tiny bathroom. I painted blue skies and clouds on the ceiling, a trellis above the shower and an oak tree on the back of the door. Thirty years later my son remembers taking a bath “in the woods”.

alula_auburn

Until I got to the oak tree, I thought “omg is Mom posting on T Lo!?!” We had a tiny bathroom with blue skies, white clouds, and a trellis too! We had a kite instead of an oak tree, though.

formerlyAnon

THAT’S funny. There are so many people who post here from my neck of the woods that I sometimes think how funny it’d be if it turned out one was someone I was acquainted with in real life – and if so, I bet it would be someone I’d never suspect!

notdorothygale

Priceless! Laughed out loud! See…great minds think alike!

Qitkat

LAMusing, your post just went up as I was composing mine. Timely.

What a gorgeous lounge. I so badly want to do a room in my house with just this much color and sass, and spitfire, and verve. Especially with the black and white accents. Every room looks better with some black and white I think. I knew there were talented, art collecting, interior decorating bitter kittens out there, I just knew it! Fun to hear about your projects. I want to redo a bedroom as an art/craft/sewing studio, repaint the walls, rip out the dingy 20 year old carpet, and either paint the subfloor and toss down some carpet tiles, or best case scenario, bamboo flooring. New lighting, new window blinds or shades. Wish I could demolish the popcorn ceiling. The only thing I can settle on so far is a soft white (Benj Moore White Down) for the upper walls, because I want to be able to see true colors in my projects I tack to the walls. There are chair railings and wallpaper on the lower walls. Painted faux anaglypta wallpaper, and I am not removing it, just repainting it. I find myself being so timid about color even though I love it when I see such a dynamic room. I also have a mishmash of storage and work furnishings to tie together. I’ve been wanting this for years. This is the year, hell, this is the spring to get it done.

Joan scares me too, but I am seriously amused at the thought of Menopausal Kittens tonight.

formerlyAnon

You get to it! A lot of people I know (caveat: none are parents with children under 8) are working to make this the year they do or experience something or a number of things that they’ve been meaning to, or trying to, or wanting to for way too long. So far the energy is mostly still up and things are getting done!

Call me Bee

How exciting! I read a slew of studio design magazines and articles before I painted our spare bedroom to make it my sewing/work room. Yeah–it’s white with white trim and white roman shades. But it is so full of fabric, spools of thread and just plain stuff all over, that a color on the walls would have just been too much. Plus–I was also concerned about wall color altering the look of my projects on the desing wall. So white works. The white does have a shot of pink in it…so I’m happy.
Good luck and have a barrel of fun with it.

formerlyAnon

Greetings, fellow TLounge Kittens, pour me something in which vitamin C fights with the alcohol (I’m partial to grapefruit, thank-you) to medicate the virus I am almost over. It’s been a week, that’s for sure. Hope all you regulars are doing all right.

I will be flaking out early, as I can’t watch the show until morning, but hello to all! Catch the barkeep before I go and I’ll buy you a drink.

NYCGlamourpuss

Get some rest, and feel better!

Qitkat

Oh, those nasty winter viruses. Be well soon. We’ll see you when you bounce back. I recently had to take two antibiotics to combat diverticulitis. Twas not fun, though I seem to be fine for now. No matter what it is, it is no fun to be a sick kittie.
[gives formerlyAnon a hug and a hot toddy] Sláinte!

formerlyAnon

Thanks! I’m past the worst of it.

ThaliaMenninger

I’m old. I hate Joan Rivers. Always have. Not because she’s rude and mean and hideous (which she is) but because she was always so STUPID on the red carpet. I suppose it’s kind of funny that she thought Anthony Hopkins’ mother was his wife and that she was all, “Who are you?” to Liz Hurley (on the red carpet with Hugh Grant) when she’d just made all the mags for her safety pin dress and was the face of Estee Lauder. I mean, I don’t care about Anthony Hopkins or Hugh Grant or Liz Hurley. Even so, it made me think Joan Rivers was stupid and annoying and not worth my time.

formerlyAnon

And here I thought *I* was going to be the outlier!

I bet you’re not alone, though.

guest2visits

I only appreciated her for a very short time when she first had her own tv talk show. She was NICE.
I also became very irritated with her for not having the info right on the RC. And if I was bothered by it – I can only
imagine how the celebs took it. She had a unique position and did a terrible job of it. No one wants to be jeered at
on the RC; and that’s all she excelled at.

Seacrest is probably the best out there right now – he’s improved over time, but you would think someone could
really make an art out of that type of interview, by now.

NDC_IPCentral

Oh, BKs. PUFs and minions – isn’t our chatter here just so wonderfully cocktail party-ish? T Lo, we may not be talking exclusively about Project Runway, but we are talking about style, art, opinions, ideas. This is engaging and fun and instructive and cathartic.

THANK YOU for the TLOunge!

formerlyAnon

Yes. Thanks very much, Tom & Lorenzo. You provide more than the usual amusing web blog. No, it’s not the cure for cancer but I hope you never question the “real” value of the work you’re doing, as some of us do who don’t regularly save lives or extinguish (literal) fires.

no, just a dusting of snow. In my part ofFlyover country there are no lectures on Frank L. Wright to be had.

notdorothygale

🙁

notdorothygale

“Show them, bitch. Don’t be a fool”. Happy times ahead!

MilaXX

I love Joan so much! Since this is this year’s “real woman” challenge, a thing I vowed never to watch again, if any of these designers falls down on the job, I hope Joan rips them a giant new one.

OrigamiRose

Is it some requirement that some designer, every season, must be seen going, “Wow. So-and-so went home. That means any of can. *head scratch* Like… this is real“?

What did they think they signed up for, Outward Bound?

zelavie

Every button in that bag said “Patricia.”

OrigamiRose

OH dear, truly giggling at my laptop here.

MintaHallWriter

Hardy-har-har!!

Betcha you’re right!!

VictoriaDiNardo

Tell me every button in that bag doesn’t say “Patricia”!

NYCGlamourpuss

That’s absolutely what I thought, ha ha!

DeTrop

In the words of Casanova…… eggsacktly.

MoHub

Heidi barely glanced at the button before she said Patricia’s name. I’m of the opinion the buttons were blank, and Patricia was chosen because production knew it would chap Michelle’s ass.

DeTrop

It seems Joan Rivers is being criticized for remarks she made about Heidi Klum on the Fashion Police Oscar Show. I won’t state them here as I haven’t gone through all the messages and this may have come up already. She’s also under fire for remarks she made the other night on The Late Show with David Letterman about Adele being fat. She is totally without filters now and lets the chips fall where they may. I don’t think Letterman was amused by her and I had to turn it off. I have been a big fan of JR for many years but I find her now to be trying too hard. Therefore, it will be a good night for drinking.

OrigamiRose

I have to admit, I was watching FP and heard that remark. To me, it was offensive for two reasons: Not funny and poorly delivered, which is why I can’t stand watching FP. Joan is just too scripted, and every segment is built to her getting to her very stilted one-liner. I’d rather see her work organically; I am sure her material would be more amusing and far, far more clever than it is these days.

AnneElliot

I watched The Fashion Police last night via the DVR and when I heard that remark I was shocked. It was way over the line. I hadn’t watched TFP in more than a year and then I remembered why. She’s just mean.

Call me Bee

Hey–who is the woman with the white hair in the red? I just saw her in pictures.

SnackBandit

The woman getting the “Parisian Matador” is really beautiful…hope her designer doesn’t screw up her outfit.

BuffaloBarbara

Yeah, that sketch is gorgeous and exactly right for her. Please make it happen! I want to see it.

MilaXX

So we’re still in partners? Hopefully it works better this week than it did last week.

EveEve

“I’m not dead yet!” OMG! Monty Python reference. Must win.

snich11

He did not say strapless did he? Please tell me I misheard…

alula_auburn

I just can’t take Amanda seriously in that stupid off the shoulder top.

notdorothygale

The top half of slutty leiderhosen.

EveEve

“Just tell me if I need to wear Spanx” says the woman with lots of ink. Oh, honey, this is going to be good.

NYCGlamourpuss

Yeah, she was pretty awesome!

NYCGlamourpuss

Heeeey! That cute little spitfire just called my Benjamin “lover” – twice! And held his hand! I know he doesn’t bat for my team, but I’m… I’m miffed! 😉

formerlyAnon

Heheheheh!

snich11

Amanda’s melting down again. Just go home already!

notdorothygale

Praying that this, finally, is the Loser Edit.

Logo Girl

Well I haven’t had cable or Internet for about a half a year. Just watching this for the first time this season. No idea who any of these people are or how this silly “teams” things operates. It feels kinda like jet lag. Then seeing these lovely seniors dancing just adds to the sense of disorientation.

BuffaloBarbara

My goodness, I’m developing a strong dislike for Michelle.

So basically tonight’s, “You’re in teams, now go off and do individual stuff.”

OrigamiRose

Yes, I hope this is her auf episode. She needs to go back to hanging out in Sellwood and thinking she’s the cat’s pajamas.

I suppose it is, but the problem is, and I know this totally sounds like an excuse, but there is so much stuff in the room, it’s going to be hard enough to paint and pull up the carpet. I literally have nowhere to store everything, and then even if it got scraped off, then it has to be resprayed and painted. I can’t do it alone and my husband won’t even consider it. 2 adults, 40 something years of stuff, 2 story, 4 bedroom house with a basement. Oh my god, i am totally mortified now. I sound like a hoarder, honest, I’m not. Maybe I should rent a Pod, cram it full, and get the whole house de-popped. 5 rooms and a hallway, and one a cathedral ceiling. By an expert.

Unless you want to come over ;-p

Qitkat

Discus is not cooperating. True enough if it were just the one room, but house still has 4 other rooms, hallway, stair, foyer and 2 cathedral ceilings of the stuff, so it isn’t going to happen one room at a time, would rather pack up and get it all done at once, and for a lot of reasons that won’t happen either.

snich11

OMG he DID say strapless! Please nooooooo!!!

MilaXX

I really don’t care for Michelle. The editors must be starved for sound bits because she gets more TH’s than anyone & really her always on the bottom behind ain’t got much room to talk.

alula_auburn

And her weird riff on how she kicked a rabbit as a child which is why she has bad luck. It’s not that her design was godawful fug and had nothing to do with the challenge, it was those rabbits!

I’m not 100% sold on Daniel, but I love how he’s always so positive and has a good attitude about whatever they throw at him. He even danced along without looking annoyed. That’s so refreshing after seasons of eye-rolling bitches.

MintaHallWriter

Team threesome…Oh, dear…poncho Patricia…not a good plan, Patty….

snich11

No YOU need to go home, bitch!

OrigamiRose

It’s incredible that without a name, I still know exactly who you are talking about. Even if I hadn’t seen the talking head, I would know.

And I co-sign.

EveEve

Michelle may be edited to seem completely annoying, repetitive, and catty. But she’s dead-on about Patricia. Both in Patricia’s lack of good design taste, and her seemingly magical hold over the judges despite that lack.

blondie65

Totally agree…

EveEve

Amanda’s fabric would make a GREAT DVF wrap dress.

Polka_Dotty

TLo just said that on Twitter!

EveEve

Seriously?! Great minds think alike! A DVF wrap dress or a Carolina Herrera blouse/skirt combo would look wonderful on many of the ladies.

Polka_Dotty

Yes, I follow them on Twitter during the show.

PastryGoddess

If she had talent that is

MilaXX

but it would have to be PERFECT or the judge will kill her for lack of originality

blondie65

vintage housecoat….oh my….Amanda’s is bad….

MilaXX

What is it about working with seniors that made these designers pick such awful prints?

DeTrop

Exactly. All taste has gone out the window. Some of this is looking like KMart/Walmart clothing. Let’s see.

Call me Bee

That PK program sounds kinda funny. All the preacher’s kids that’ I’ve known were totally wild and rebellious.

Bet you could find it on Mood’s website. I might have to go look because i liked it too. It had such potential….until Amanda got her hands on it.

NDC_IPCentral

Patricia: horror show, and she’s only just realizing. Self-delusion, ma’am.

Some of those lady clients are real firecrackers! That goose/bottom pat the one gal gave Stanley was worth the whole evening.

Man, the end of the evening output there is looking pretty dire…..

Polka_Dotty

I”m a senior — not quite as senior as most of these women, I”m 63 — but they’re acting like their clients are antique aliens. Guess what? Why not make fashion, like you would for a 40-year-old, and fit it to the individual? Why are we seeing bibs and housedresses?

NDC_IPCentral

Love, I’m 62, so you and I are contemporaries. The clients here are all lively gals who dance, for the loveamike, so they know movement. No, you don’t dress them as 20 year-olds, but yes, Polka Dotty, I think you have the right idea.

notdorothygale

Amen to that, Polka. I’m three years “more mature” than you and if I live to be 90 I would never wear anything like these horrible garments. Hell, my mom’s 91 and she has NOTHING like these things in her closet.

MoHub

I’m 61-plus, and my mom is over 87, and neither of us would dress like the majority of the offerings.

MintaHallWriter

Yeah, I think you’re right. A couple people seem to have nice looks. Ben’s looks particularly beautiful. Without seeing the final versions, his looks like a front-runner so far. He got the client’s favorite color and the look she asked for. But paired with Amanda…I dunno. He could lose out on the win.

EveEve

Patricia’s going to have time to start over?! Something really fishy is going on with the producers me thinks.

NYCGlamourpuss

Can I just tell you, my favorite part after she goosed Stanley was Benjamin coming over to retrieve her – the way he just took her by the hand and calmly lead her away cracked me up!

snich11

And I loved Stanley’s reaction!

NYCGlamourpuss

“Why did I listen to Beatrice? Why didn’t I do my own thing?” WHY, Patricia? Because she’s your CLIENT, dimwit! Because you’re supposed to be doing what SHE wants, not what YOU want. Because maybe Beatrice doesn’t want a dress covered with fringe!

DeTrop

Let’s all bow down to Michelle who knows alls, tells all but cannot produce. What a pain the a$$ she’s turning into.
Lots of second guessing going on – and rightfully so. The knives are out for Patricia/Water Lilly. Makes me want to root for her big time. Back to the show/travesty.

EveEve

I hope the ladies get the full hair and makeup treatment and rock the runway, no matter how hiddy their clothes look

Polka_Dotty

Maybe they can get really, really long extensions — long enough to cover up their hiddy clothes!

OrigamiRose

Granted we’re not seeing that much but has anyone spotted a garment that looks like it will be better than “meh”? It could be editing; but so far, I’m feeling like the best this week will be the cream of a horrid lot.

EveEve

The leopard looks promising. And Ben’s doing some turquoise tulle that’s being hidden

Polka_Dotty

Have we seen Michelle’s outfit yet? All we see is her complaining about Patricia, but somehow it doesn’t seem like they’ve shown her design.

MissAmynae

i’m in love with these ladies!

AthenaJ

I want them to adopt me as their grandchild!

MissAmynae

Miss Rosalie!! Trying so hard to save Ben, love her.

NDC_IPCentral

Platform high heels for septuagenarian women is a lawsuit waiting to happen…. couldn’t Lord & Taylor have modified its offerings to be mature-woman appropriate. And I don’t mean ortho shoes, but sheesh,… sky-high horse hoof stilettos??

EveEve

Yeah, a lawsuit for defamation of character!

NDC_IPCentral

I’m thinking personal injury for a major header where the poor gal breaks an ankle, arm, wrist or her nose!

MilaXX

The scarf hem is a bad idea. I would make that an even hem. She could then use the leftovers for sleeves.

zelavie

I have a feeling these ladies will be some of the most fierce runway models we’ve seen in a long time.

EveEve

Kate’s dark green house dress looks absolutely awful

Polka_Dotty

I think that’s Tu’s design.

NYCGlamourpuss

Yeah, it’s Tu’s – Kate was trying to help him.

notdorothygale

They are gonna be cutting those fabulous ladies out of these garments.

They don’t — last week she skated by, because there were others that were worse. Tonight, I think Amanda’s print housedress will give Patricia another week.

Call me Bee

All (well…most) good ideas made horrible with that one-day time limit. Just think how much better fit and finished those garments could have been with another day.

EveEve

These one-day challenges just aren’t fair to the designers. That is all.

VictoriaDiNardo

or to the clients…or us viewers frankly. Drama but no pay-off.

snich11

Drama is why the producers do it. There’s no other reason I can think of other than they want to see stress-induced meltdowns. Which is rather disgusting, actually.

DeTrop

Coming up on PR Joan Rivers using swear words. Nice Joan. You’re criticizing the designers with vulgarity in front of senior citizens who just want to have fun. Nice.

MilaXX

Heidi, I cannot with your gyno dresses this week. I have run out of cans.

Call me Bee

Hey–Where’s Stuebenville tongiht? Or did I miss his post…?

NDC_IPCentral

MAN, I hate that portentous voiceover announcement “This will move you….” Puh-leeze, this is a reality show competition. To move me… well, give me a documentary about Doctors Without Borders. Project Runway Teams is not THAT monumental.

It’s just entertainment.

OH GEEZE, Heidi = a sequined Wilma. And scraggly hair.

notdorothygale

Heidi is channeling Sheenah, Queen of the Jungle.

snich11

Short, tight and shiny! Woo Hoo Heidi!

zelavie

Oh, Patricia… you gave her a humpback.

OrigamiRose

That was painful to watch.

Although it was refreshing for a designer with a larger client to not bitch about the client’s size, or a conspiracy to saddle her with a large client. Granted, Patricia is likely more conscientious to not be such a douche; still, a nice change from Ven, my Disquis namesake.

Polka_Dotty

If I were Patricia, I’d sleep with two eyes open tonight.

OrigamiRose

Maybe that’s why they always have the cray-cray going on: She never closes them at night!

notdorothygale

“The bells! The bells!”

notdorothygale

Stanley=A+

MilaXX

So far the only looks I like are Stans, which has fit issues and Layana’s which is a hair too shirt

This team in particular because there were three of them and two of their looks were really liked.
The good:bad ratio of off.

CarolinLA

Michelle: STFU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MilaXX

Michelle STFU, this is the only time that has happened. Your other garments sucked.

OrigamiRose

Really, she makes me want to throw a martini glass at the television.

alula_auburn

Honestly, that kind of feels to me like Heidi is full of shit, or else Melissa got a boost from her adorable model, because that dress was fine, but nothing extraordinary. If Heidi gave a higher scores than Stanley’s suit, even with the fit issues, and Samantha’s cute dress, she’s either high or just saying that specifically to mess with them.

MilaXX

yup, that was obviously a shit stirring move.

BuffaloBarbara

Yup. There was absolutely no reason for that. And if they’re trying to set up Patricia drama, shouldn’t they, I don’t know, attempt to find some footage where she’s being something other than perfectly pleasant?

DeTrop

Stanley – Kate – Daniel Yes

Benjamin – Tu – No

snich11

Wow, some of these ladies are in great shape!

EveEve

Loved the leopard print – I’d pick that for the win. Stan had a real advantage – his model was tall and thin – and looked stunning.

alula_auburn

Yeah, in the real woman challenges, it almost always skews heavily to the tallest and thinnest model–I’m not sure if that’s all the designers or some of the judges. It was even worse when they got to pick the models.

MoHub

And so many designers who get the bigger models get screwed. Reference Robert Best and Vincent’s sister.

BuffaloBarbara

Oh, Patricia. I like you and can’t stand your teammates, but you just sent Wilma Flintstone’s winter wrap down the runway while Michelle’s, at least, was cute. That deserved a serious dressing-down, or an Auf, though there were some other auf-worthy pieces up there as well.

Stanley–this outfit rocks everything ever. Thank you for not making an “old lady outfit,” just a cool outfit for a cool lady to wear.

MoHub

Of all the outfits, only two positively horrified me: Patricia’s and Benjamin’s. Patricia made her client look like a giant burrito, and I can’t find the words to describe everything that shocked me about Ben’s. Even Tu’s, though unfortunate, didn’t force me to avert my eyes.

MilaXX

Oh Dan, that is not the look for you.

OrigamiRose

Oh JOAN. She did not criticize Daniel’s model the way I just heard, did she? That seemed far more personal than necessary.

MilaXX

Richard’s outfit is FUG! I get what he was going for but this is sloppy and kind of cheap looking. HATE that waist detail, it reads beach coverup.

zelavie

Agreed 100%

EveEve

Agree – not getting all the love for this schmatta

NDC_IPCentral

Joan Rivers: “You’ve got great knees, so show them bitch” —- If that potty mouth woman had said that to me, I’d have given her a real stinkeye. She sounds very desperate, and … she’s offensive.

OrigamiRose

That comment to Daniel’s model looking like a first wife… it actually made me angry. Stick to the garment and not to trying to be shocking at the expense of the woman in the garment.

AthenaJ

In my opinion, she looked classy and attractive, so I didn’t see what Joan was complaining about. In fact, when I saw her walk the runway I turned to my fiancee and said that’s what I want to look like when I’m older… mature but still got it.

OrigamiRose

But according to Joan, we should be aspiring “GILFs.”

Ugh. The “ILF”-ing of culture. I would be happier if we had never known that term.

AthenaJ

I second that!

NDC_IPCentral

YIKES. I didn’t quite hear that when I was watching. I thought she was tossing out a bit of Yiddish. Now I’m really offended by Rivers. What vulgarity.

I think it was mean of Heidi to tell Layana and Ms. Know-it-all Michelle that they were in the bottom because of Patricia. There was no way they were going to win over Stanley. No way. Heidi adding to the drama for ratings. Badly done.

MilaXX

Hating the partnerships. They really do not work together and Kate pretty much admitted that.

Peeve

A lovely thing for Kate to say about Tu..

blondie65

absolutely…hopefully they will both be around for a bit…

AthenaJ

Yup I am liking Kate more as we go along. Tu seems sweet but they don’t really show much of him… not surprising though considering Michelle is taking up half the airtime!

yeah – I’m really starting to like Kate. And she did some beautiful work this week in her fitting. Using some light boning on the top of the skirt to keep it flat and smooth while allowing volume below the top was very smart.

alula_auburn

Kate is really growing on me.

Stubenville

Tu’s expiration date is up.

Stubenville

Stanley FTW.

EveEve

yep – they were working so hard to make Richard’s ….thing…sound like it was great when it clearly wasn’t – so that the team would be on top and Stan could win.

Stubenville

The turquoise refrigerator cozy?

EveEve

Maybe…it really kind of defied description, which is why the judges were having so much trouble defining exactly what it was supposed to be. I just call it a schmatta.

DeTrop

What was all the love for that schmatta? Please. Heidi would ‘almost’ wear it. Uh Huh.

OrigamiRose

She would almost wear it… if it was shorter, shinier, and have a plunging neckline that reached her navel and showed the world her girls.

guest2visits

I was searching for the right description… I don’t need to look anymore.

Indovina

….thing.. indeed.

My first thought was Science Officer hair cutting smock, but I don’t know what it was or why the judges liked it.

I agree. Would have looked much more sleek without those sleeves (which I wouldn’t like on anyone regardless of age), but she rocked the dress.

MoHub

Absolutely. Bar the puffy sleeves, Samantha’s outfit was edgy and rocking and absolutely fit the client’s persona. I love that Joan pointed out the tattoo and the buzz cut and how the dress fit that aesthetic.

zelavie

I’m calling Stanley for the win, Amanda for the auf.

NYCGlamourpuss

I hope you’re right – I don’t want to see Benjamin go.

zelavie

I didn’t want to see him go either. I guess she’s providing enough drama to keep her around.

MilaXX

agreed

Peeve

Wait a minute! Both Amanda and Ben did quite well last week! Has Heidi forgotten?

NYCGlamourpuss

She’s an idiot!

In_Stitches

Her and Padma are proving that ‘hosts’ who’s only qualifications are that they were previously models should not be granted a vote in the proceedings.

Stubenville

Officially they’re judged only on the current challenge. Which happens whenever it’s convenient.

BuffaloBarbara

Thank you, Joan, for pointing out that the cool lady could rock whatever kind of dress makes her feel awesome. Yes. I wanted to smack Heidi and Nina for that ageist BS.

MoHub

Well, the ageism was bouncing off the screen. If I’d heard one of the clients patronizingly referred to as cute one more time, I’d have started throwing things at the TV. Babies and puppies are “cute.” Older women can have sparkly personalities, but they also have dignity and don’t need to be condescended to.

And yes, I’m over 60 and have no desire to be referred to as cute by someone young enough to be my offspring.

BuffaloBarbara

Yes. I didn’t say anything last night because I couldn’t put my finger on just what it was, but you’re right — “cute” and “sassy” for older women are kind of like “Oh, she has such a pretty face!” for larger ones.

MilaXX

I wish they’d do a Ru & send them both off.

AthenaJ

Agreed, if Ben deserves to go home then Amanda sure as hell deserves to go too.

OrigamiRose

Damn. I actually got a tear looking at Benjamin hear he was out. 🙁

NYCGlamourpuss

My poor Benjamin baby… I’m totally sad.

dschubba

I thought Benjamin would have a little more staying power.

I feel for his model!

Stubenville

And goodbye Max Headroom! Don’t let the garage left arm hit you on the way out.

AthenaJ

…and Amanda skates by again…

CozyCat

I think Ben was worse. One of the judges put it perfectly: every wedding has a grandma in Ben’s dress (better constructed). Amanda had some ideas that might have worked, but the construction issues did her in.

What really bothers me, though, is that as usual in “real women” challenges, the designers who draw the real women with the best figures end up on top.

NYCGlamourpuss

NO!!!! Not my Benjamin!!! Fucking asshole judges!!

zelavie

Duct tape prom dresses. Well, okay, then.

EveEve

Duct tape prom dresses are a thing. Just Google “duct tape prom dress” under Google images and you will be amazed what fun and creative designs the kids come up with, for the guys too.

Call me Bee

Huh–that was kind of a shock. I thought it was going to be either Amanda or Tu. But I have to admit–his dress made his client look like a rolly-polly. Even though she liked it–the construction killed it.

Polka_Dotty

He didn’t live up to his hype. Which he hyped up himself.

alula_auburn

Way to spoil the gimmick, Tim/Lifetime! I want to wonder about the duck!

Ben rubbed me the wrong way from the start,to be honest. Amanda just kind of bores me.

snich11

Should’ve sent them both home. (Very cranky tonite!)

MissAmynae

Agreed. Good time for a double-elim.

AthenaJ

As bad as Patricia’s was, the mean-girl hating from her other teammates has me so angry. All they did was rag on her behind her back and not help at all until the very last minute.

BuffaloBarbara

That’s exactly where my head was. Any other week, in a non-team version of the show, I’d have auf’d Patricia for that piece of fug, local girl or not. But with the way they were behaving — I was kind of rooting for anything that would make sure they didn’t get any recognition at all.

EveEve

Seems as though most of that mean-girl (or boy for that matter – Josh) hating is recorded after the show has wrapped – to create extra fake drama.

In_Stitches

I’m not sure how true that is; Patricia did give a talking head saying that her teammates had tried hard to dissuade her from her course of action. It’s hard to tell at what point that happened and at what point the advice they gave happened…I certainly don’t trust Bunim and Murray to give me information in a linear, honest fashion.

CarolinLA

Michelle especially. I hated that Heidi liked hers and Layana’s tonight because it is rewarding their behavior in a way.

blondie65

Really…high school students get to vote. For a PR challenge. Shark, jumped….long time ago. Damn, even 3 glasses of merlot can’t numb that realization.

CarolinLA

I disagree. Just as Joan was a good judge for her age group, I think high-schoolers are a good judge for theirs.

Frank_821

actually it works since duct tape prom clothes has been going on for some time. and some of the thing those kids come up with borders on genius

EveEve

Stan had a bit of an unfair advantage – his model was the tallest, thinnest, and one of the youngest – and walked the runway as though she’d modeled in a former life.

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blondie65

Yeah…that is unfortunately, kind of the key to these “real women” challenges. Pairing up with the client who is the closest to a runway model. Not to discount Stanley’s outfit which was really good…but part of what made it stand out over some of the others was his client.

Frank_821

I think it could have gone either way as far as Ben and Amanda

Ben is more likable but his client really did look like it was more than a size too small. Amanda is turning out to be a weak contestant and her dress was a mess but there were more interesting ideas. Construction wise they both had issues

while I don’t see Amanda being an official finalist, her clothes had a defined point of view and Ben rarely lived up to his hype. what’s more his portfolio was composed only of sketches. they were potentially interesting sketches but what was up with that?

well the right person won

I will say while Michelle is a being a majorly whiny pain, she does have a point about Patricia. The woman brings something interesting in terms of fashion but the judges are over-enamored with what she does. Also I was informed during the show Patricia could be very stubborn and resistant to outside opinions and could be frustrating to work with.

BuffaloBarbara

I must admit — if I had teammates who behaved that way toward me, I wouldn’t be jumping in line to listen to their opinions. Standing over at another table and shooting side-eyes at me just doesn’t bring out my teamwork spirit.

But Patricia seems blissfully unaware that her teammates might see her as a weak link or not like her work so I don’t think that had anything to do with it. As much as I want to like Patricia’s work after a strong start she has shown the same stubborn streak in previous challenges. She doesn’t welcome input from her teammates, which wouldn’t be an issue if she were as good a designer as she thinks she is. Not to diminish her abilities in any way, but she’s more of a fiber artist than a clothing designer.

BuffaloBarbara

I guess I find it unlikely that anyone is unaware of that. If you’re working with two other people and they go off and leave you alone while talking to each other in low voices… it’s pretty obvious what they’re talking about. There’s no way to not notice that. She strikes me as being willing to try and be nice anyway. (I remember my grandmother advising me to try and see something good about girls bullying me, because they’d like me if I recognized their talents. Since having them like me would have entailed spending time with them, I never tried the experiment. ;p)

None of which excuses that awful coat/cape/whatever that was. I’m just sort of glad she put out crap this week. Now, I’d like her to please not put out dreck next week, too. On behalf of New Mexicans, I am really hoping she gets her act together. Our state motto is bad enough. It doesn’t need to be changed to “The Crazy Cape State.”

Believe me, I’m with you on wanting to see Patricia do well. I had great hopes that we’d finally have an artsy, esoteric, eccentric designer who lived up to their persona. I love her ability to think out of the box and approach things from a completely unique place, but I don’t think she’s turned out to be a great fashion designer. I didn’t really perceive Michelle and Layana’s behavior as bullying and I think a lot of that perception is in how it’s being edited. It’s very likely every designer in that room made similar comments about Patricia’s work and the judges reaction to it when asked in their little interviews but they are only showing her teammates comments because they are the most relevant and I think they are also trying to build some kind of redemption arc for Michelle. She hasn’t pulled any punches but I don’t think she’s said anything that we haven’t all been saying and reading on this blog for the past few weeks. I haven’t seen her actually be rude in the workroom though and she and Layana seemed somewhat at a loss how to handle the situation even when prodded by Tim. Patricia hasn’t welcomed critique from Tim or her teammates and always brushes it off, so whatcha gonna do? Work on and hope for the best.

Sing4yursupper

Any team of three when all the other teams have two is a recipe for disaster, but this particular team of three was doomed from the beginning. True, these episodes are edited to full dramatic effect, but for weeks now, Michelle has repeatedly made comments about Patricia or her work. If I was Patricia, I would have just gotten on with it and ignored the other two given their sneers and glares. I’ve never liked anything that Michelle has produced, and she’s jolly lucky that she’s still a contender, if you want to call her that. She’s this season’s big mouth here to stir the pot.

BuffaloBarbara

For me, it was the comments, particularly, that bugged me. Those were obvious producer manipulation. It was the shots of them in the workroom, the kind of “us against her” bit in the body language. They may edit to make it look like there was more of it than there was, but it had to be there in the first place to get editable shots. There was a very clear vibe of, “Ick! I don’t want to be around that sort of person!” that comes through loud and clear.

The sucubus strikes again. Patricia and Amanda are very similar in that they only do one thing reasonably well but at least Patricia gets on with it and isn’t a constant distraction to her teammates. I’d take her over Amanda every time.

nannypoo

Amanda’s ludicrous dress was the loser by a mile in my opinion. Benjamin’s sucked too, but not nearly as much.

I have found Benjamin and Michelle both to be so arrogant and so self-important in this competition that I can hardly decide which of them I like least. Benjamin’s constant need to tell us how he supports his teammate and how he props that person up with his excellent advice, and Michelle’s degrading comments about everyone else who is dragging her down and making her look bad, when neither of them has demonstrated any particular skills to back up their claims of superiority – I wouldn’t buy a garment made by either of these tossers if it was the only thing on the rack.

I realize that Patricia’s outfit was the worst on her team, but I’m pretty sure the judges were aware of how everyone feels about her and they used this knowledge to set her up to be even less popular with her colleagues going forward. There is some serious cruelty among these judges.

I cannot believe the praise over Richard’s beach/smock/bathrobe. Please. What was the poorly conceived elastic mess in
the front? Just something that nobody noticed? And no Nina; I do not think this tilted, baggy silhouette is considered youthful,
young, trendy, or ‘now’. I thought it was right on the bottom with Patricia’s (how crazy is it that we don’t get to see what’s under
her stiff wrap to judge it for what it is), and unhappily… at the very bottom; Amanda’s.
I really hated to see her lose her way. The print she chose was cool; I had hopes it would be a winner, but she just kept picking
it apart until it was the worst silhouette possible for her client, and the print couldn’t help it – or the fact the back was a disaster.
Amanda was the auf for me..even though I wanted her to stay, it seemed the fairest conclusion.
I did not think Ben’s was terrible – I thought he took extra care to fit his client precisely except for the arms which he spoke of
being too snug in the workroom. That was just the shape of his model; and he fit her accordingly. And she loved it; it was what
she asked for. Also; the judges have no reason to tell any of the designers that they don’t know who they are as a designer when
the challenge is to make something so specific to a client’s needs. Save that chestnut for some other challenge.
And Tu’s was a contender for one of the bottom slots. He also created a sloppy, almost bathrobe look. The belt was the best part.
Of course Stanley’s was the winner; not only was it a more complicated design, it was tailored very well and it suited his client –
who just happened to be a beautiful ex-model (ok I’m making that up, but you know what I mean).
I also thought Kate’s turned out very well for her client, and Melissa’s too; even though I didn’t like the print she selected: little
miss swivel-hips who danced down the runway loved it.

NYCGlamourpuss

Well said. I don’t understand why on a CLIENT challenge, if the CLIENT loves what she got, how that designer winds up going home. So ridiculous that Ben’s gone!

EveEve

It would be naive not to realize the judges were working so hard to make Richard’s ….thing…sound like it was great when it clearly wasn’t – so that the team would be on top and Stan could win.

rolacus2

Patricia needs to step up her game. She’s a perfectly pleasant and fun individual, had a great dress in the first episode, and offers a chance to see native americans on reality tv… but she’s just on a downward spiral as of late. Granted the stiff poncho was not anywhere near as bad as the fringe and plant outfits the past two episodes, so maybe she is on an upswing? I dunno.

Unlike Ping, Blayne, Ari, etc… I think Patricia has a unique perspective and talent under all that bug eyed coocoo bird realness. But if she doesn’t step it up, then the judges need to light a fire under her ass. No more letting her squeak by. How is she supposed to know unless someone tells her. I really wish they’d critique ALL the garments sometimes, even if they don’t show it on tv. I want Princess Patty to do well, but if she can’t keep up she needs to go (not before MEchelle though)

rolacus2

Also to anyone offended by Joan Rivers, there’s a mute button on your
remote. Use it. It’s not like she hasn’t been doing the crass and vulgar
schtick since the ice age. You might as well be complaining that George Carlin’s stand up routines are “rude”, that south park is “low brow”, or that Madonna used sex to sell her albums.

Guess what. We know it already and it’s kind of the appeal.

A tame inoffensive Joan Rivers is not one I want I my tv screen.

OrigamiRose

Sorry to burst your bubble but in a group judging setting, “mute” is not an option.

And I think it’s crass and gross – and most of all, unnecessary – to tell a woman of age that she looks like a “first wife” and should aspire to look like a “GILF.”

You wanted Joan Rivers on your screen, you got her. Hopefully for the first and last time on Project Runway.

The top: Stanley’s look was terrific and perfect for his model… who was gorgeous and very elegant, which doesn’t hurt on getting a win. Still it was my favorite. Don’t get all the love for the turquoise shapeless thing. Sure it’s fine to throw on to run up to the market for a loaf of bread, or maybe for a casual lunch at the beach, but they seemed to be seeing something I sure didn’t. Daniel’s was fine, but pretty basic. Could buy it anywhere, except the one sided collar thing which seemed contrived just to “be different”.

The bottom: The 2 bottom ones were both awful. To me the most telling reason for aufing Ben – he didn’t know how bad it was. He thought it was fine. Not only too tight and too stiff, the hem was a disaster and the fabric choice made it look a wrinkled mess. Only plus was his client loved him. Amanda, on the other hand, just got very lost in this challenge and knew what she sent out sucked. That, plus her lovely effortless offering last week, would make me more hopeful about her future offerings than those of Ben.

MEchelle – MEchelle is whiney, self important and deluded. She thinks she’s only been in the bottom because of her team-mates. Hello? Remember last week and that dreadful 80’s metalica dress? You landed in the bottom all on your own MEchelle. Her outfit this week was cute enough, but didn’t hurt that her model was slim, vivacious and worked it.

Patricia – started very strong, wandered to the middle and then this week really dropped the ball. However, what she whipped up in about an hour was miles better than her original idea. And she seemed very clear she made a bad design choice by listening too much to her client – and lost her own POV. She didn’t whine or wail or whimper – she put her head down, tossed her original outfit and whipped out something new in about an hour. No, it was not great, but the idea was MUCH better and had she started there it might have been terrific for her larger model with the brighter color framing her lovely face and neck area, the darker color on bottom, and the interesting angles of the center section. it just looked too thrown together and unfinished. Which it was. But I admire her guts in tossing out the old that late in the game and going for it. Unlike Amanda who whined and fussed from the beginning to the end and didn’t have the nerve or imagination to make a bold choice to try to fix her initial errors in judgement.

Tu was tu ambitious for his clearly limited sewing skills – it had to fit perfectly to work. Kate’s was really flattering. She also seems very sweet.

Duct tape? Didn’t we do the unconventional materials last week?

ChaquitaPhilly

not duct tape…DUCK tape. Product Placement!

MoHub

Actually, the original name of the material was duck tape. It was developed to wrap around servicemen’s boots when they were stationed in damp areas with the idea that it would repel moisture like “water off a duck’s back.” It was later renamed duct tape because that sounded more like professional handyman material.

ChaquitaPhilly

Yeah. Knew that!
BUT there was a great big product placement shot for DUCK tape in the preview.
I bet that’s what they have to use. It comes in lots of really “tacky” patterns and colors.

Did you ever see “Bella, Bella Quilts”? The quilt patterns are based on Italian mosaic floor designs.

MitchellGilburne

I am proud to report that Joan Rivers is wearing that very same blazer in the picture I have with her.

guest2visits

Also for T & Lo in your paint searches; (when you decide to give it another shot) some comparable shades to the sitting room –
you might sample palest blues of that tone, like a few Sears paints:Windsor Haze, Drifting Blue, Rainstorm, Savannah Blue, Little Boy Blue and Bonita Blue. Valspar makes top paints: Sapphire Glow, Prairie Sky, Cool Hue, Dewdrop and Celestial Blue. #4003-5.
These range from blues tinged with cloudy greyness to blues with more distinct intensity.
And to get a true reflection of the color you may need (you *will*) to prime the exsisting walls with white. I know; fudit.
We’ve gone through the painting and renovation process, many times.